For many households in Chindungwa Village, Traditional Authority Pemba, in Salima District, maintaining basic hygiene had long been a challenge.

Many families lacked proper pit latrines with lids, hand-washing facilities, and rubbish pits, leading to frequent cases of diarrhoea and other sanitation-related illnesses.

However, the situation is now improving. Thanks to awareness campaigns by the Zisinthe Radio Listening Club (RLC), in partnership with Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO), more families have adopted essential sanitation measures, including pit latrines with lids, tippy taps (low-cost hand-washing devices), and rubbish pits.

These initiatives are part of the Health Communication for Life (HC4L) project, a five-year, $24.7 million program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through FHI 360 as the prime contractor.

Sauda Fahadi, 22, a married mother with one child, is one of the villagers who benefited from the awareness campaigns. She recalls how she used to struggle with hygiene practices at home.

“At first, I did not know the benefits of using a tippy tap for washing hands after defecating,” Fahadi explains.

“My children and I frequently visited the clinic because of diarrhoea, but now that is a thing of the past.”

The tippy tap has transformed hygiene practices in Fahadi’s household. Her children now wash their hands with soap after defecating, breaking the cycle of germ transmission.

Fahadi also ensures that the pit latrine hole is always covered with a lid, a simple but crucial step that prevents houseflies from spreading germs and causing infestations.

Through these small but effective changes, families like Fahadi’s are experiencing improved health and a safer living environment.

The HC4L project continues to support households in Chikwawa, Salima, Nkhotakota, and Nkhata-Bay districts, promoting hygiene, sanitation, and healthy behaviours at the community level.